Hawaii has always had a special place in my heart. We’ve been blessed enough to be coming here ever since I was a little girl, and now bringing back our little family to make memories makes it an even more special place. That being said, this past trip was in honor of my dad’s retirement (which was this past December)…. our entire family picked a time that worked for everyone, booked the trip, and enjoyed 10 days together in paradise. And even though having two little ones provided some hiccups here and there, it was by far one of my favorite trips to date. Sharing a recap, along with our favorite spots to eat/see here today….
I should probably note that over the past several years we have started staying at hotel timeshares that allow us bigger rooms + kitchen amenities. The reason being… it’s nice to not have an agenda. To just lounge by the pool/beach and not feel the need to rush off to dinner. It’s also so much more convenient with children…. we make breakfast at home (most mornings)… bring lunch down to the pool (can we just talk about how ridiculously expensive poolside lunch is????), and BBQ at night… we make a point to make it out to our favorite spots though (which is what I’ll share today!).
HOTEL
Marriott Ocean Club: We’ve stayed here several times + it’s an incredibly family friendly resort right on the water. Central to Whaler’s Village (a spot with shopping + restaurants…) and other great spots. It has a cute little pirate ship for small children as well… which Harper loved when we stayed there.
Westin Nanea Villas: We’ve stayed here twice, and this is where we stayed this last trip. We really like it here. It’s still in Ka’anapali, but on a little less congested side, which we appreciated. The pool is great (very small adults only pool though) and you have access to all the amenities at the Westin Villas which are next door. The gym is great… the beach in front of the hotel is beautiful (not rocky, very calm), and the rooms are very new and modern
RESTAURANTS
Merriman’s: This is a must stop spot for us… the views are spectacular and the food is delicious. More upscale if you choose to dine on the inside, but we prefer to head there for a beautiful happy hour, which overlooks Kapalua. For us, they’re the best Mai Tais on the island (and yes, we’ve been to Monkeypod…. they’re actually owned by the same person).
Farmer’s Market: A great market/sandwich/smoothie spot for healthy eats (they have a ton of products that you would find at Whole Foods). We go there every time for the açai bowls.
Duke’s: Love it here for the open air setting, beautiful views, and excellent happy hour (Mai Tais are great here too!). They have live music at their happy hour, which is something we always appreciate.
Japengo Sushi: We get take-out from this spot every time we come. It’s fresh + so delicious. Dining in is a beautiful experience as well.
Prison Street Pizza: Undoubtedly the best pizza we’ve had on the island. We order it for take-out…. and did so twice this past trip (on evenings where we went to a later happy hour). One of my all time favorite memories is when we took out a bottle of champagne, this pizza, and headed down to the beach to watch the sunset.
Belle Surf Cafe: This was a new spot that was recommended to us by the owner’s mother… and I’m so glad she recommended it. The decor was so cute, the caffeinated beverages were excellent, and the food (we had the avocado toast) was delicious. I highly, highly recommend this spot.
Veuve Clicquot Hale: This was on my list for this past trip (since we had family who could help watch the girls)… but it was closed the one day that we could go (#ofcourse). Basically, it’s a little house that is perched over the water in Kapalua… breathtaking views + they serve Veuve Clicquot… basically my #dream. It’s located at The Montage Hotel and it’s something that I recommend solely off of my own personal desire to go!
Other spots that were recommended, or that we’ve been to in the past…..
Monkeypod (we’ve been here… I loved it the first couple of times, but feel as if the quality has decreased slightly…. just my personal opinion though)
Hula Grill
Aloha Mixed Plate (this is still on my list… the view looks gorgeous, and several people mentioned that the food is healthy + delish!)
Star Noodle (a lady sitting next to us at the pool raved about this place… and mentioned it is hard to get reservations…)
And then there is always the touristy Cheeseburger In Paradise… which is fun simply because it’s right on the water and slightly iconic…
HIKE
We hiked to Nakalele Blowhole (where the infamous heart rock is located) on a previous trip and it’s gorgeous. A super easy hike, and worth the drive!
_______
Now onto the photos + outfit details….
(A beautiful way to be greeted to the island….)
(Sister hangs… literally…. cover-up, insulated flutes)
(First Duke’s Happy Hour….)
(The beautifully appointed Belle Surf Cafe….)
(Spent most of my time with my ankles in the water… except for these few photos… swim top, bottoms)
(This view from our morning walks!… and a toddler who was ready to get to the pool…. top)
(A fun day at the beach + pool…. my swim bottoms, top, cover-up, Harper’s swim, Camille’s swim, Girls’ Sunglasses)
(Always love my time with my sister…)
(And with the hubs….my cover-up, TJ’s shorts)
(Merriman’s… good food, libations, views… and even better company…. my skirt, top, Harper’s dress, Camille’s Onesie)
(No bad views…. biker shorts, tee)
(The best spot for a nap… Nana’s arms)
(Pool time with his girls…. and this spot was completely shaded in the late afternoon which is why Camille is in the pool)
(Probably my favorite suit from the trip, such a great fit…. top (also in black), bottoms (also in black), skirt)
(My little fish… Harper’s suit)
(The cutest little polka dot cover-up….)
(Little miss sassy…. my suit)
(Snapped our family photos on our last morning…. my shorts)
(One last sunset with this guy….)
